Sunday, August 7, 2016

For Eve

Publish last year on International Women's Day -

For Eve ------------- To the little girl who dreams of castles and knights, Dream, but also learn to ride your own horse And build your own palace To the girl who watches her mother dressing up Try out her lipstick, but also her grace Her sari is not as beautiful as the patience she wears Her shoes will always be too big to be filled To the mother whose little girl is always watching Remember, she’s always watching Empower her, raise her, and never belittle her dreams Or let her think that your little boy means more To the mother who is ‘only a mother’ You nurture the future; a task beyond human strength You earn everyday – not money, but merit To the empowered career woman Celebrate your independence But never belittle the woman who stays home For she has done what you have not To the teenager testing her wings in the world Proceed cautiously, learn to say no Pursue your passions, but not at the expense of your soul To the woman who loves to flaunt Let them behold your splendid body But never scoff at the woman who chooses to cover hers out of reverence To the woman who wants to change her body You are already perfect The only thing you lack is self-love To the woman who embraces every joy in life May you be infectious in spreading your light To the woman who suffers in silence, Turn to the woman who will be your voice For we are sisters A shining web of strength that breaks only when we break each other This is my prayer For the woman I see every day For the woman I have yet to meet For the woman I may never meet May you be confident in the knowledge that Within you is the power to change the world. - Shanuki